Martin County police records are public files kept by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the Stuart Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies in Florida. These files include arrest reports, crash reports, incident logs, and jail booking records.
Any person can ask for these files under Florida public records law, known as Chapter 119. The law does not require you to live in Martin County. The law does not require you to give a reason for your request. Most files open to the public once a case closes or an investigation ends.
Martin County Sheriff’s Office
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It covers all unincorporated areas, which are places outside city limits. The Sheriff’s Office also runs the county jail. It employs deputies who patrol neighborhoods, answer calls, and file police reports. Records made by deputies fall under Florida public records law.
What the Sheriff’s Office Covers
The Sheriff’s Office handles patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and jail operations. Deputies answer calls in areas outside city limits. They file reports for crimes, traffic crashes, and other incidents. The agency employs more than 400 sworn deputies and civilian staff. The Sheriff is elected by county voters every four years.
Types of Records on File
The Sheriff’s Office keeps many types of police records. These include incident reports, arrest reports, crash reports, booking records, and 911 call logs. Each record has a case number, a date, the names of people involved, and a written description of what happened. Some records also have diagrams, photos, and witness statements. You can ask for any of these records through the records division.
Office Location and Hours
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office main building sits at 800 SE Monterey Road in Stuart, Florida 34994. The records unit takes phone calls at (772) 220-7000. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office closes on weekends and county holidays. You can walk in during business hours to make a request in person.
How to File a Records Request
Florida law makes it simple to ask for police records in Martin County. You do not need to be a lawyer. You do not need to be a citizen. You do not need to show ID. You just need to contact the right agency and tell them what you want. The agency must respond to your request within a reasonable time. Reasonable time means days or weeks, not months.
Details That Help Find a Record
A good request has enough detail for the agency to find the right file. Include the full name of any person involved, the date or date range, the location, and the type of incident. If you know the case number or report number, add that too. The more details you provide, the faster the agency can pull the file.
- Full name of the person involved
- Date or date range of the incident
- Location (street, city, or area)
- Type of incident (theft, crash, arrest, etc.)
- Case number or report number if you have one
- Name of the agency that responded
Ways to Send Your Request
You can send a request in person, by mail, by email, or by phone. In-person visits let you talk with records staff and pay for copies on the spot. Mail requests need a written letter or a filled-out form. Email requests go to the records email address listed on the agency website. Phone requests work for simple questions, but written requests are better for copies.
- Visit the records office in person during business hours
- Mail a written request to the agency address
- Email a request to the records email address
- Call the records unit for help or basic details
Cost and Time Estimates
Florida law lets agencies charge for copies and for staff time spent on large searches. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, agencies can charge their hourly rate for the staff member who does the work. Copies usually cost 15 cents per page for one-sided copies and 20 cents for two-sided copies. Small requests often finish in 3 to 5 business days. Large or old requests can take 2 to 4 weeks.
Arrest and Jail Booking Records
Martin County arrests end at the Martin County Jail. The jail sits at 800 SE Monterey Road in Stuart. Every person booked into the jail has a public record. The record shows the arrest date, charges, bond amount, and a mugshot photo. Booking records open to the public right away under Florida law.
Daily Jail Roster
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office posts a daily jail roster on its website. The roster shows people currently in custody. You can search by name. The list updates several times each day. You can also call the jail at (772) 220-7000 to ask about a specific inmate. Release dates show up on the roster once the person leaves custody.
Booking vs Full Arrest Report
A booking record is short. It shows the person’s name, charges, and bond. An arrest report is longer. It includes the officer’s written story of what happened, witness names, and evidence. The agency that made the arrest writes the arrest report. You must ask that agency for the full arrest report, not the jail. The jail only keeps booking records and mugshots.
Traffic Crash Reports
Traffic crashes in Martin County are reported to the agency that responds to the scene. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office handles crashes on county roads. The Stuart Police Department handles crashes inside Stuart city limits. The Florida Highway Patrol handles crashes on Interstate 95 and U.S. highways. All three agencies file crash reports in a state system.
Online Crash Report System
Florida uses a single online system for crash reports. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles runs the system at flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports. You can search by crash date, county, and last name. The site charges a small fee for each report. Most reports post to the system within 5 to 10 days of the crash.
Which Agency Handled the Crash
Knowing which agency responded helps you get the right report. Crashes on I-95 or the Turnpike fall to the Florida Highway Patrol. Crashes on streets inside Stuart fall to Stuart PD. Crashes on roads in unincorporated Martin County fall to the Sheriff’s Office. If you do not know, the FLHSMV search tool lists the agency on the report cover page.
Statewide Records Through FDLE
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) keeps statewide criminal records. FDLE collects arrest data from all Florida counties, including Martin County. The state database shows arrests, charges, and final court outcomes. Many background checks pull from this central database.
Criminal History Background Check
FDLE offers criminal history checks for the whole state of Florida. You can request a check by mail with fingerprints or online without fingerprints. The fee is $24 for each name search. You can pay with a credit card, money order, or certified check. Results arrive in 5 to 10 business days by mail or email. Many employers and licensing boards accept these checks.
FDLE Public Records Portal
FDLE has a public records portal called JustFOIA. You can create a free account and submit a request for FDLE documents. The portal works for records made by FDLE, not for local police records. The mailing address is FDLE, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302. The phone number for the public records unit is (850) 410-7676.
City Police Departments in the County
Martin County has a few city police departments. Each city keeps its own records. The largest city police department is in Stuart. Smaller departments operate in Jupiter Island, Sewall’s Point, and Ocean Breeze. Records from city police open to the public under the same Florida law.
Stuart Police Records
The Stuart Police Department serves the city of Stuart. Its records unit handles reports made by Stuart police officers. The department sits at 830 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Stuart. The phone number is (772) 288-5450. You can ask for incident reports, arrest reports, and traffic crash reports from Stuart city streets.
Smaller Town Police Departments
Jupiter Island, Sewall’s Point, and Ocean Breeze have small police departments. These departments write few reports each year. Records requests go to each town hall. Jupiter Island police serve a wealthy barrier island community. Sewall’s Point covers a small peninsula. Ocean Breeze covers a tiny town on the coast. Each town has its own records process.
Fees, Redactions, and Closed Records
Florida law gives strong public access to police records. Some records stay closed by law. Active investigations can be hidden until they end. Juvenile records are sealed. Informant names stay private. Personal data like Social Security numbers and medical details gets redacted before release.
Copy and Search Fees
Agencies can charge for copies and for search time. One-sided copies cost 15 cents each. Two-sided copies cost 20 cents each. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the agency charges its hourly rate. If total fees will go over $200, the agency must give you a written estimate first. You can decide to keep the request or narrow it down.
Common Closed Record Types
Florida law lists many types of records that stay closed. Active criminal investigations fall under this rule. So do records about confidential informants, undercover officers, and crime victims. Home addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers of police officers and their families stay private. Medical records and juvenile records stay sealed by court order.
- Active criminal investigation files
- Confidential informant identities
- Undercover officer records
- Crime victim personal details
- Juvenile arrest and court records
- Police officer home addresses and phone numbers
- Medical and mental health records
Online Search Tools and Limits
Some Martin County police records are online. The Sheriff’s Office posts a daily jail roster. The FLHSMV system hosts crash reports. FDLE hosts a sex offender registry. Most other police records are not online. You must ask the agency directly for incident reports, arrest reports, and other case files.
Records You Can View Online
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office website hosts a jail roster search and a list of active warrants. You can also find a sex offender map, a most-wanted list, and crime stats for the county. The state FLHSMV system lets you order crash reports online. FDLE hosts the Florida sex offender registry at offender.fdle.state.fl.us.
What Online Sites Cannot Show
No full online database of Martin County police reports exists. Free sites that claim to offer full searches often show old or partial data. Some paid sites pull from public sources. For an official copy of a police report, contact the agency that wrote the report. Official copies have the agency stamp and signature.
Key Contact Details
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is the best starting point for most police records. Staff can help you find the right file. They can also tell you which agency holds a specific record if you are unsure. The records unit handles requests during business hours.
| Agency | Phone | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County Sheriff’s Office | (772) 220-7000 | 800 SE Monterey Road, Stuart, FL 34994 | Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Stuart Police Department | (772) 288-5450 | 830 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994 | Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Florida Department of Law Enforcement | (850) 410-7676 | P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302 | Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Florida Highway Patrol (FHP Dispatch) | *FHP (*347) | Statewide Dispatch | 24 hours, 7 days |
| FLHSMV Crash Report System | (850) 617-2000 | 2900 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32399 | Online 24/7 |
Official Website: martinsheriff.com (Martin County Sheriff’s Office) — ci.stuart.fl.us (Stuart Police Department) — fdle.state.fl.us (FDLE) — flhsmv.gov (Crash Reports)
Common Questions
This section answers common questions about police records in Martin County. Each answer gives you clear facts you can use. The answers cover cost, timing, and legal rules. You can use this section to plan your request before you contact the agency.
Can I get Martin County police records for free?
Florida law lets agencies charge for copies and for search time. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. Copies cost 15 cents per one-sided page and 20 cents per two-sided page. Some records cost more, like crash reports from FLHSMV. The daily jail roster and warrant lists are free to view on the Sheriff’s website. Most other records carry a small fee based on staff time and copy costs.
How long does it take to get a police report?
Simple requests finish in 3 to 5 business days. Larger requests with many records or old cases can take 2 to 4 weeks. If the agency needs more staff time, they will tell you before they keep working. You can also pay extra for faster service in some cases. Crash reports post to the state system within 5 to 10 days of the crash. Out-of-state mail adds 3 to 5 extra days.
Are Martin County arrest records public?
Yes. Florida law makes arrest records public once a case closes. Booking photos and jail records are public right away. Active investigations stay closed until the case ends. You can search the current jail roster on the Sheriff’s website for free. Full arrest reports must be asked for from the agency that made the arrest. The agency can redact witness names and Social Security numbers.
Can I get police records for someone else?
Yes. Florida public records law does not limit requests to the person named in the record. Any person can ask for any public record. You do not need to give a reason. You do not need to be a Florida resident. Some personal data gets redacted to protect privacy under Florida law. This rule protects victims, officers, and witnesses named in reports.
What police records are not public in Florida?
Active criminal investigations stay closed until they end. Records about confidential informants and undercover officers stay private. Juvenile records stay sealed. Social Security numbers, home addresses, and phone numbers of police officers stay private. Medical records and details about crime victims also stay private under state law. Some records also stay sealed by court order.
How do I get a background check in Martin County?
For a Florida statewide check, request a criminal history report from FDLE. The cost is $24 per name. You can request online, by mail, or in person. For a local check, ask the Martin County Sheriff’s Office for a local records check. Some private companies also sell background checks. Official checks from FDLE are accepted by employers and licensing boards across Florida.
What if the agency denies my records request?
You can ask the agency to put the denial in writing. The agency must cite the specific Florida statute that allows them to keep the record closed. You can then appeal the denial to the agency head. If the agency still denies the request, you can file a lawsuit in Martin County Circuit Court. The court can order the agency to release the record. The court can also order the agency to pay your legal fees.